MONEY MARKET.
STOCK EXCHANGE, FRIDAY AFTERNOON.
Business in the English Stock Market has ext.ibited a decided improve- ment during the past week, a rise of more than per cent having been es- tablished. Money is in greater circulation, and the rates have become much easier ; there is altogether a greater feeling of confidence in business affairs generally, and in consequence, a greater disposition on the part of the public to operate in the Funds. This has been particularly manifest the last day or two, for in addition to the numerous bargains in connexion with the liquidation of the July Account which took place yesterday, a con- siderable amount of purchases for August has been made. The tone of the market is totally altered since last week, and at the present moment there would seem to be an inclination to enter into speculations for a rise. Con- sols were first quoted 95* 95.1, and there were several influential sales made at 95i during the morning ; a gradual advance has since been constantly going on, and the market closes today with firmness at 9R The Govern- ment Broker has again been active in daily purchases of RedI. uced the clos- ing figufe of which is 954 I. The payment of the half-yearly dividend in Consols commenced at the Bank yesterday. Exchequer Bills, 198. 228. ; India Stock, 218 221; Bank Stock, 220 222.
The only feature that can be at all noticed as a relief to the general dulness and inactivity in the Foreign Market throughout the week is a rise in Peruvian Stock ; the Four-and-a-half per Cents, which were last week quoted 8687, are now 89 90; and the Peruvian Dollar Bonds have risen from 60 to 74 : in these stocks there is every appearance of still better markets. Other securities are comparatively inactive, quotations remain- eng nearly the same as last week. The new Brazilian Scrip is rather better, but with little doing. Mexican closes In 20; Venezuela Active, 37e 381; Peruvian Three per Cents, 69 70 ; Turkish Six per Cents, 95 951; Victor Emmanuel, 9293 ex div. ; Spanish, 43e 44.
In Railway Shares, as in the English Funds, a general improvement in prices will be observed. The late exceedingly low rates brought purchasers into the market, and many of the numerous " Bears " have been induced to repurchase their sales. There has been an active business passing every day all round, and the tone of the markets has assumed greater hrmness than has bet n witnessed for some weeks. The rise in Caledonian amounts to somewhat more than 2 per cent, the last quotation this afternoon being 371 38 : in Midland and in Leeds an advance of 1 to le per sent has been well supported ; London and North-Western, and London and South-Western, have improved 1, and South-Eastern about f per cent. London and Brighton closes 107 109 ; Lancashire and Yorkshire, 90k a; Sheffield, 361 37; Great Northern, 24e 24k; North Stafford, 6 5e. The markets close firm, but there has been less animation shown today. The French Share Market shows firmness, although it has been subject to some fluctuation. The final quotations arc as high as they have been lately—Lyons, 30' 31 ; Northern, NI 37 ; Strasbourg, 25e 251; Paris and Orleans, 50 62. The Indian Mar- ket is supported, but little improvement has taken place. Madras 20/. Shares, 20 201; Great Indian Peninsula, 20e 21k ; East Indian, 1041 105k.
At a meeting of the Colonial Bank proprietors on Wednesday, a dividend of 3 per cent for the last half-year was declared, and a large balance of pro- fits was carried to the reserve-fund.
The Union Bank of Australia have agreed with the Treasury for the loan of 500,000/., guaranteed by the Imperial Government under an act of the last session,.for the service of New Zealand, and a considerable portion of the amount is in course of transmission to the colony. It is understood the directors intend shortly to offer a large portion of these bonds for public subscription, and that they will probably invest their reserve-fund in the remainder. Both principal and interest being secured on the Consolidated Fund of the United Kingdom, the bonds will constitute a very desirable se- curity for permanent investment. A company under the title of the Steam Boiler Assurance Company has been established at Manchester ; and it is a singular fact that such a com- pany was first suggested by the .late Mr. Thomas Forsyth, whose death by an explosion was announced last week. Mr. Forsyth is said to have attended a meeting of the company only two days before his death, when he advised an assurance of lives against boiler-explosions in connexion with the corn- Tally. It is computed that within a radius of ten miles round Manchester there are more than 50,000 boilers, giving a total of 1,250,000 horse-power.
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